![]() Finally, they are hunted by a predator for seconds and even minutes, before being strangled, dismembered, poisoned, swallowed whole, or worse. They are then released into the habitat of their predator, a strange and alien environment where they often can find no food, water, or shelter. These animals are born and bred to be consumed, often living in stressful or painful conditions. Some animals receive nutritional benefits from freshly killed meat others enjoy hunting like they would in the wild.īut the animals that are hunted and eaten suffer intensely from live-feeding. There are some fair reasons why someone would choose to live-feed a captive animal, rather than feed them dead animals. ![]() Because of this practice, many animals live and die as prey to these predators, spending the last moments of their life in terror and torturous pain. This practice of giving living prey to captive animals is surprisingly common. In Cuba, stray dogs are tossed by zookeepers into a lion’s habitat. Especially if they aren’t kept clean.In China’s Yancheng Safari Park, a live donkey is given to a pack of tigers, who attack for half an hour before finally killing the donkey. Just like any other kind of food station, birdfeeders can be culprits in spreading of disease, says Kate Plummer, a research ecologist at the British Trust for Ornithology. ![]() Especially since food put out for birds can also attract many other creatures. While it may seem like common sense not to feed a grizzly or an alligator, the question of whether to feed backyard birds is a bit trickier. More animals in one spot can also lead to more fighting and injuries, says Fleegle. “This condition has been documented as a cause of death in both deer and elk in Pennsylvania,” says Fleegle.įeeding can also alter the ways animals move throughout a landscape, affecting distribution patterns. For instance, feeding deer a lot of corn can disrupt the natural balance of acid in the animals’ stomachs and lead to a condition called lactic acidosis, or grain overload. Nutrition is another important factor to consider when deciding whether or not to feed wildlife.Īnimals will often make use of a reliable or easy food source even if it isn’t one that suits their nutritional needs. This is why experts often say, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” ( Here's why feeding bears is worse than you think.) This can make them more likely to get hit by cars, get into altercations with children or pets, and ultimately, have to be put down by wildlife managers. Providing a buffet for wildlife also teaches those animals to associate humans with food. (Related: “How to stay safe around wild animals”) ![]() In fact, food-seeking squirrels bite more people than any other animal in Grand Canyon National Park. But all wild animals, even the small ones, are capable of inflicting harm. Wild animals are not petsĪnyone who has ever seen a raccoon nibbling on some peanut butter knows the animals can look every bit as cute and cuddly as a family pet. “Feeding wildlife is generally a bad idea, no matter what the species or where you are,” says Fleegle. Canine distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, Baylisascaris, and avian pox are all diseases or parasites that can be spread at feeding sites. ![]()
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